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| Blasts kills top Afghan official | Blasts kills top Afghan official |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The deputy governor of Afghanistan's Helmand province has been killed in a bomb attack on a mosque, officials say. | The deputy governor of Afghanistan's Helmand province has been killed in a bomb attack on a mosque, officials say. |
| The attack in Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, was caused by a suicide bomber, police said. | The attack in Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, was caused by a suicide bomber, police said. |
| Deputy governor Haji Pir Mohammed was one of seven people - including the bomber - killed in the explosion, a local official told the AP news agency. | Deputy governor Haji Pir Mohammed was one of seven people - including the bomber - killed in the explosion, a local official told the AP news agency. |
| Helmand is a major stronghold of the Taleban, the hardline Islamist militia that formerly ruled the country. | |
| Most of the 6,000 British troops serving as part of a Nato force in Afghanistan are also based in the south-western province. | Most of the 6,000 British troops serving as part of a Nato force in Afghanistan are also based in the south-western province. |
| A report by a US diplomatic and military team released earlier this week warned that Afghanistan was on the verge of becoming a failed state. | |
| Separate reports also released this week have warned the West's humanitarian and military programme for Afghanistan both face failure. | |
| Attacks by the Taleban during the past year have been the highest recorded since the regime was ousted by US-led forces in 2001. | |
| According to a local health official interviewed by AFP news agency after Thursday's attack, that six bodies had been brought to a local hospital, "including the deputy provincial governor". | |
| The mosque where the attack took place is said to be close to several provincial government offices. | The mosque where the attack took place is said to be close to several provincial government offices. |